Gwangyang Library Dreams of Becoming a City of Happy Books

133 Billion KRW Invested Over 4 Years for Library Construction and Facility Improvements

Expected to Serve as Information Hub, Healing Space, and Future Talent Development Center

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] Gwangyang City in Jeollanam-do is accelerating efforts to improve library facilities such as new construction and remodeling since the beginning of the new year, implementing various reading culture policies to attract citizens to libraries despite the adverse situation of a sharp decline in library usage due to COVID-19.

According to the city library recently, as one of the measures to realize the library operation goal of "Happy citizens through libraries, Gwangyang united by books," they announced that from the new year they will actively engage in new library construction and improvement of existing library facilities.

Last year, Gwangyang City Library secured a total of 3.3 billion KRW (2.4 billion KRW national funds, 2.9 billion KRW city funds) for 31 projects, including national treasury request projects and national fund-supported public projects, to expand library facilities and conduct excellent reading culture programs.

Looking into the main work implementation plans of the city library for the new year, they can be summarized into three major categories: ▲strengthening reading culture services as a complex cultural space through reading promotion, ▲creating a reading environment where libraries can be encountered in daily life through facility expansion, and ▲aggressive promotion of library policies to spread their value.

Especially this year, as demonstrated by winning the highest honor, the 'Grand Prize,' in the government evaluation of the Reading Academy Project for public libraries nationwide last year, the plan is to devote efforts to facility expansion to create a better reading environment based on the accumulated capabilities of reading culture policies.

Gwangyang City plans to complete the Kumho Library, which began construction in July last year with a total project cost of 4.5 billion KRW (2.25 billion KRW national funds) and currently shows 42% progress, by May this year, conduct a pilot operation, and officially start library services from July.

Kumho Library, located within the POSCO National Industrial Complex, will operate with a cultural and artistic theme specialization reflecting the results of a resident survey, offering the residents of Kumho-dong a complex cultural space library that combines reading, lectures, performances, exhibitions, and experiences.

Gwangyeong Library is being remodeled from the Duseong Building into a new citizen center as part of the Gwangyeong-dong urban regeneration project, utilizing floors 4 through 7 as a library equipped with an English experience room, children's room, general reference room, education room, and club room.

The remodeling of Gwangyeong Library, which started construction at the end of last year with a total project cost of 1.25 billion KRW (625 million KRW national funds), is currently halted to align with the citizen center's progress, but construction will resume in June this year, aiming for completion by the end of the year and opening to the public in March next year.

Madong Library, with a total project cost of 6 billion KRW (3 billion KRW national funds), supported by suggestions and wishes from Jungma-dong residents, has already received approval for public facility installation plans from the city council. Construction will begin after completing detailed design and administrative procedures this year, with an opening scheduled for the end of 2024.

Madong Library is planned as a children's library considering that half of the children in Gwangyang City, the youngest city in Jeollanam-do with an average age of 42.1 years, reside in Jungma-dong and reflecting local residents' opinions.

A city library official expressed the ambition to operate the libraries with dedication so that Hope Library in the Gwangyang-eup area and Madong Library in the Jungma-dong area can be children's book playgrounds and learning centers where children feel the libraries are 'another home.'

The small library to be established inside the Gwangyang-eup Resident Autonomy Center under construction will be small and cozy with a project cost of 140 million KRW (112 million KRW national funds), but it is expected to become a comfortable resting place for residents using the center and nearby children.

The "Smart Unmanned Library," which has gained great popularity due to non-face-to-face book lending and returns since the arrival of COVID-19, will be established this year at the edge of the Jungma-dong Resident Autonomy Center parking lot following last year's installation next to the provincial art museum parking lot in Gwangyang-eup.

Gwangyang City secured 130 million KRW (65 million KRW national funds) to build the "Smart Unmanned Library," which operates 24/7 with an unmanned automated system based on RFID technology. Library members can borrow up to three books per person for 14 days.

Additionally, Gwangyang City is promoting major facility improvements including interior remodeling, window replacement, and solar panel replacement at the annex of the Central Library and through a carbon-neutral energy efficiency support project, investing a total of 1.262 billion KRW (531 million KRW national funds).

By 2024, the total project cost invested in library construction and facility improvements by Gwangyang City Library will reach 13.282 billion KRW (6.583 billion KRW national funds).

Bang Ki-tae, director of the Childcare Education Center, said, "As a result of efforts to secure national funds for library expansion, we have achieved results beyond expectations thanks to the government's active support," adding, "We will operate the libraries as comfortable places like neighborhood salons or cafes where people want to stay and relax."

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.